Loyalty from You; None from Me. The USA Way.

“If you want a friend in Washington, buy a dog.” That old political cliché has never felt more real than it does today in Tokyo. For months, we have heard U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lecture Japan on “loyalty” to the global financial order, pressuring the Bank of Japan to hike interest rates to suit American trade interests.

But where was that loyalty on February 28?

While the Trump administration launched strikes that effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz - the artery for 90% of Japan’s oil - Tokyo was reportedly left in the dark. No heads-up. No coordination. No "Plan B" for the energy-dependent and wonderful ally that keeps their Pacific flank secure.

We are often told that the U.S.-Japan alliance is the "cornerstone" of peace in the Pacific. We are told that loyalty is a two-way street. But as Operation Epic Fury enters its second week and the Strait of Hormuz remains a graveyard for global shipping, it’s time to ask: Where was Washington’s loyalty to its "greatest ally" on February 28?

The reality of the last 10 days has exposed a cold truth that every Japanese citizen and non-residents needs to understand.

The "No-Call" Betrayal

While the Trump administration and Israel coordinated their decapitation strikes for months, the Japanese government was reportedly left to watch the news like everyone else. There was no ´Hey Tokyo, let´s chat and talk about what´s coming.´ There was no coordination for the energy shock that was guaranteed to follow.

• The Intelligence Gap: Japan depends on the Middle East for over 90% of its oil. By launching a war that predictably triggered a blockade, the US effectively cut our energy lifeline without giving us a chance to prepare.

• The "Pants Down" Moment: While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was issuing orders to silence commentary that might "strain talks," our own leaders were in emergency sessions, scrambling to figure out if our tankers in the Gulf were even safe.

Bessent’s Double Standard

The hypocrisy is most visible in the office of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

For the last six months, Bessent has treated the Bank of Japan (BOJ) like a child, publicly chiding them for being "behind the curve" and demanding they raise interest rates to save the Yen.

But look at the game he is playing now:

1. He demanded Japan raise rates to make our exports more expensive and help US trade.

2. He stayed silent as his own government launched a war that has spiked oil to $140, creating a new, artificial "energy inflation" that Japan cannot control.

3. The Trap: If the BOJ raises rates now to satisfy Bessent, it could trigger a domestic recession just as our electricity bills are set to double.

It is the ultimate "America First" maneuver: They start the fire, they profit from the rising energy prices (as the US is now a net exporter), and then they lecture us on why we aren't doing more to put out the flames in our own house.

The "80s Playbook" All Over Again

In the 1980s, the US forced the Plaza Accord on Japan to fix their own trade deficits, which eventually led to Japan´s "Lost Decades." Today, they are doing it again, but with missiles instead of meetings. They expect Japan to be a "loyal partner" that buys their Tomahawk missiles and supports their wars, but they don't think twice about the "Shrinkflation" hitting your kitchen table because of their unilateral actions.

The Takeaway for Japan

An ally that doesn't consult you on an existential threat is not a partner; they are a supervisor. As we look at the potential for ¥320 per liter of gasoline and doubled power bills this summer, we have to realize that "loyalty" in Washington’s eyes means Japan following orders, while the US does whatever it wants, even if it means leaving us in the dark.

It is time we stopped waiting for a "heads up" that will never come and started building an energy and economic strategy that doesn't depend on the whims of an administration that only remembers us when it's time to pay for the weapons.

Thanks for reading. Abrazos.

Diego Rojas